In Forum

In Forum

January 04, 2018 InForum Issue

As the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society continues to implement Legal Services Regulation, all areas of operation are being reviewed for updates and improvements – including member communications.

The past decade has brought profound changes in the pace and format of communications, as well as the tools and delivery methods used. The Society’s role and priorities have evolved significantly, and the new Legal Services Support approach is changing the nature of the regulatory conversation with lawyers and law firms. It’s core to our new model of regulating legal services in a manner that is risk-focused and “Triple P” – proactive, principled and proportionate.

The Society understands that we have to communicate differently to engage more effectively and efficiently with lawyers in 2018 and the years to come. We are evaluating how we communicate, with a view to making improvements in the months ahead. We’re reviewing how often we send information and consult with the profession, what we publish and the platforms we use, from the website and publications to emails and social media channels.

We’re also building and testing some promising digital tools to enhance your ability to connect with the information and resources that matter most. It’s going to be a web construction zone over the next few months but we will keep you up to date along the way.

Most immediately, you’ll notice some modifications to the InForum e-newsletter, our primary and most frequently read communication vehicle.

Starting with the next edition on January 25, InForum will be published on the last Thursday of every month while we are under construction. See the publishing schedule for 2018.

Contents will be streamlined to ensure a greater focus on regulatory information.

For urgent updates between monthly editions, you may see an increase in direct email communication over the next few months. During this time of transition into Legal Services Regulation, NSBS will keep the membership well informed.

Members are also encouraged to follow our regular updates via these social media channels:

The Society welcomes your input on member communications, and where we could be doing better. Share your feedback via email at communications@nsbs.org or by telephone at 902 422 1491 ext. 331. Most importantly, stay tuned!

The new guide covers a wide range of topics such as how to keep informed about regulatory updates; changing your membership category or contact information; professional standards; the complaints process, insurance claims; and developing ethical infrastructure for managing your legal practice. It also outlines annual obligations for members such as annual fees, trust account reporting, professional development and the Annual Lawyer Report.

The Society has also published these new resources for lawyers in Nova Scotia:

“One of the most interesting things happening in Canada … is what Nova Scotia is doing in the regulatory space. The work they’re doing with bringing about this sense of ethical infrastructure, the idea of entity-based, entity-driven legal regulation, I think is really important,” says Mr. Furlong at the top of his list of highlights to watch for across the country in 2018.

“It reflects the reality it’s not just going to be law firms delivering legal services in the years to come.… What I think Nova Scotia is recognizing is this is where the market is heading, and that we might as well respond to that now, be ready for it proactively.”

For the rest of Mr. Furlong’s comments about NSBS introducing Legal Services Regulation, see the first two minutes of his video at the link above.

The ​Legal Services Regulation Update is an electronic newsletter with information and progress reports on the Society’s transforming regulation initiative. Featured contents include innovation profiles, news and web resources, Council and operational updates and more.

Also visit the Legal Services Regulation area of the website for detailed information as the Society's new regulatory framework continues to evolve. It's the top item in the dropdown menu under the Regulation tab.

If you would like to receive the Legal Services Regulation Update e-newsletter directly via email, contact us at communications@nsbs.org. Please send us your feedback, questions and suggestions!

The Nova Scotia Barristers' Society gives notice that pursuant to Section 37(1) and (2) of the Legal Profession Act, Stephanie Adele England, formerly of Chester, is suspended from practice effective December 18, 2017 until further notice.

In 2017, a firm in British Columbia last year fell victim to one of the bank transfer-type scams that we’ve reported on in recent years, suffering a six-figure debit to their trust account. Numerous Nova Scotia lawyers and/or their staff have received the same type of “spoofing” email scam attempt (emails that falsely appear to be sent from an individual’s email account). Unlike the typical financial scams where a client seeks to debit your trust account with a bogus cheque, this scam targets a lawyer or staff person who will receive an email appearing to be from a colleague who is out of the office, requesting assistance in making a payment or wire transfer to a domestic or international financial institution. The colleague’s name will appear in the “From:” line of the email, which leads the person in the office to falsely believe they are communicating with their colleague. One example of the message is as follows:

[Employee name],

Please let me know if you're available to process a Bank Transfer or E-Transfer, because i'll be very busy today(this is an outgoing payment). And also, what is the information you need to process it?

Thanks,[Lawyer name]

Sent from my iPhone

If you or your staff have received a similar email, change your email passwords immediately in order to reduce the risk of being “spoofed” again. These emails will be looking to either transfer money directly from one account to another, or to intercept and obtain sensitive banking information that can be used to steal money from your accounts.

Remember, if you receive an unusual and unsolicited email that appears to be from a party you know, confirm their request by sending a new email (not by directly replying to the email in question).

The following is an article excerpt from Homewood Health™, your health and wellness provider, on behalf of the Nova Scotia Lawyers Assistance Program (NSLAP).

" ...[W]ork-life balance is a philosophy where we determine the required time needed to properly prioritize the efforts put towards career and ambition against the energy and activities dedicated to lifestyle, including family, leisure and pleasure ... If you experience prolonged periods of time without work-life balance, it may have adverse effects on your mental and physical health. Several studies have shown that working long hours for extended periods of time have led to occurrences of physical and mental ailments including cardiovascular disease and depression."

Visit the NSLAP website at www.nslap.ca. For more information and support with work-life balance, along with resources and counselling to improve your health and wellness, register with Homewood Health™ https://www.homeweb.ca. Please note that NSLAP is your “company” name when you register.

Thursday, January 4, 2018 – Members of the Nova Scotia Bar are advised there is a new Prothonotary for the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Halifax, effective immediately.

Lyndsay Hollett has a Paralegal Diploma and has worked for the Nova Scotia Department of Justice (Court Services) in various roles since 2005. She began her career at the Law Courts, working in Court Administration. From 2011 to 2016, she served as a judicial assistant at the Supreme Court (Family Division) in Halifax and subsequently returned to the Law Courts as a Court Administration Team Leader. She has also liaised with Sheriff Services on court order enforcement matters.

Ms. Hollett begins in her new role today, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. She can be reached by phone at 902-424-7870 or by email at Lyndsay.Hollett@courts.ns.ca.

OTTAWA, December 19, 2017 -The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, has announced that Kathleen Marie Ring, General Counsel with the Department of Justice Canada, is appointed a prothonotary of the Federal Court. She replaces Mr. Justice R.R. Lafrenière, who was appointed a judge of the Federal Court on June 8, 2017.

Regulations for the Adult Capacity and Decision-making Act were approved by Governor-in-Council on Dec. 14, in preparation for the act coming into force Dec. 28.

"All Nova Scotians have the legal right to make decisions where they have capacity," said Mark Furey, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. "The new act will soon be in place to ensure those rights for people with diminished decision-making capacity."

The regulations detail who can carry out capacity assessments, how they will do it and what the work will cost, and the requirements of representation plans.

Physicians and psychologists will be able to do capacity assessments when the act comes into force. Other health professionals, specifically, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, occupational therapists and social workers will be able to conduct these assessments once they have completed the specified training.

The Nova Scotia Public Trustee Office will maintain a registry of all representation orders under this act. Under the Incompetent Persons Act, there was no place to register orders. The office will have the authority to receive and investigate written complaints so that anyone can report a guardian's or representative's failure to act within the law.

Government has taken steps to remove cost as a barrier for Nova Scotians who make applications under this legislation. Nova Scotians who want a capacity assessment under this act can apply for help with the cost. The Nova Scotia Public Trustee Office will review applications to determine eligibility for financial assistance.

Legal aid will be available to adults who are or could be subject to a representation order. Families that meet a financial means test might also qualify for legal aid service.

Information on the act and the duties and responsibilities of representatives, including guides and video resources, is available on the website of the Nova Scotia Public Trustee's Office at: www.novascotia.ca/just/pto .

Dr. Matt Bowes, Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Examiner, has recommended an inquiry into the deaths of Lionel Desmond and his family under the Fatality Investigations Act.

"There have been many questions raised by the family and members of the community relating to how this tragedy could have happened and whether anything could have been done to prevent these deaths," said Dr. Bowes in a Dec. 28 announcement.

"I have reflected carefully on this case, I have reviewed the circumstances of these deaths, and I have had the privilege of speaking with some members of the Desmond family. I believe that an inquiry could help us to learn from this tragedy and, in so doing, I am hopeful that we may prevent future deaths in similar circumstances."

An inquiry would examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Mr. Desmond, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, his wife, Shanna, his 10-year-old daughter, Aaliyah, and his mother, Brenda, who were killed in their home in Upper Big Tracadie, Guysborough County, on Jan. 3, 2017.

"Our thoughts continue to be with the family at this difficult time," said Justice Minister and Attorney General Mark Furey. "I thank Dr. Bowes for his review of this matter and will be acting on his recommendation in the new year."

The terms of reference and the appointment of a judge to oversee the inquiry will be announced shortly.

A report released December 15 provides 10 recommendations to help prevent sexual violence on Nova Scotia university campuses. The report, Changing the Culture of Acceptance, was developed by the Sexual Violence Prevention Committee.

"Sexual violence is not, and never has been acceptable on university campuses," said Dianne Taylor-Gearing, co-chair of the committee, president of NSCAD in Halifax and chair of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents.

"We are all responsible for changing the culture in which sexual violence exists. These recommendations provide a clear path forward. I am encouraged steps have already been taken and that Nova Scotia is leading the way by working in collaboration to make a significant difference on university campuses."

The committee was established as an outcome of the 2015-19 memorandum of understanding between the government and Nova Scotia universities. Committee members included representatives from government, universities, student groups and community agencies working in the area of sexual violence prevention and response.

"Government stands with students and post-secondary institutions in our shared commitment to help prevent sexual violence from happening, and to support victims when it does happen, so that students and staff can feel safe on any one of our campuses," said Labour and Advanced Education Minister Labi Kousoulis. "I appreciate the committee's thoughtful work and specifically its concrete and achievable recommendations that are already starting to be implemented across the province."

The committee's recommendations aim to shift the culture in which sexual violence exists, and to support universities in advancing efforts to help prevent sexual violence on campus.

Some of the recommendations include:

the delivery of consent education

training for the campus community on responding to sexual violence disclosures

the development and delivery of anti-oppression education for leaders on campus

Atlantic Premiers are working together to grow the economy, create jobs, enhance oceans opportunities and modernize and harmonize regulations.

The 32nd meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers was held in Halifax on Dec. 11. Premiers also discussed ways to collaborate in developing the region's workforce, legalizing and regulating cannabis, and improving the climate for business growth by reducing red tape.

The Nova Scotia Legislature has a new, more accessible website: nslegislature.ca.

The aim of the renewed website, launched Dec. 13, is to improve and expand access to information about the legislature and the work of members of the legislative assembly.

"The website is a valuable tool for communicating to and educating people about the various functions, procedures, traditions and people that serve as the legislative branch of the government," said Speaker of the House Kevin Murphy. "This new website has greater functionality and accessibility for users and maintains our commitment to transparency and responsible government."

Available in English and French, the website features integrated legislation and bills, quick access to top tasks, and a responsive design. Users will have a customized experience based on their preferred device. The website was launched in 1995. Nova Scotia was one of the first provincial jurisdictions in Canada to have an online presence.

The legislature was also the first provincial jurisdiction to adopt Twitter, and recently expanded its social media presence to YouTube and Facebook.

The launch coincides with the birth of Joseph Howe, journalist, politician and public servant. He championed access to information and dedicated his political career to furthering the public good.

This conference will bring together critical scholars, and people working in criminal justice and social justice fields to exchange ideas and interrogate issues related to ‘harm’ and ‘harm reduction’ in relation to people, policies and practices in the criminal justice system.

This event joins the Critical Perspectives Conference on Criminology and Social Justice, held annually in Canada since 2011, with the Nova Scotia Criminal Justice Association’s annual learning event, held in Nova Scotia since 2005.

We invite submissions from critical scholars, students, practitioners, policy-makers, advocates/activists and others who study or work on issues of harm and harm reduction in criminal justice contexts.

Examples include presentations that speak to:

the criminalization of human behaviour;

social harm, (in)justice and crime;

critical perspectives on harm reduction; or

strategies for reducing harms in the criminal justice system.

We are receptive to submissions about research and scholarship in varying stages of development, as well as descriptions of programs and initiatives engaging with the conference theme. The conference will be held in both official languages; as such, we welcome submissions for presentations delivered in French or English.

In addition to individual and symposium presentations, the conference will feature keynote addresses and roundtable discussions from invited distinguished critical scholars and criminal/ social justice practitioners. Further details about the ‘Harm and Harm Reduction’ conference and registration will be communicated in early 2018.

Taylor MacLellan Cochrane is seeking a litigation lawyer for its Kentville location.

Taylor MacLellan Cochrane proudly traces its roots in the Annapolis Valley back to 1835 when the founding Partners opened the very first law office in the Kings County Shire Town of Kentville. Since those early days, Taylor MacLellan Cochrane has become one of the largest law firms in Nova Scotia outside of metropolitan Halifax serving clients throughout the Atlantic Provinces.

We are currently seeking a litigation lawyer with two to five years’ experience to join our team. The successful candidate must be a member in good standing of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society, and have litigation experience to fill a general practise position. In this role you will serve some of our existing clients as well as develop your own portfolio. If you have an interest in a career opportunity in the Annapolis Valley and being a part of our team, please respond in confidence to:

Taylor MacLellan Cochrane proudly traces its roots in the Annapolis Valley back to 1835 when the founding Partners opened the very first law office in the Kings County Shire Town of Kentville. Since those early days, Taylor MacLellan Cochrane has become one of the largest law firms in Nova Scotia outside of metropolitan Halifax serving clients throughout the Atlantic Provinces.

At this time we are currently seeking a full-time Paralegal to join our Foreclosure Team. Taylor MacLellan Cochrane is seeking a highly motivated and energetic Paralegal to become part of the firm’s Mortgage Enforcement Team at its Kentville location. The successful candidate will have strong computer and document production skills, and must possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills as this position involves a high degree of client contact. Having strong written and verbal communication skills in French will be considered an asset.

The successful candidate must be extremely organized, have the ability to multi-task while remaining focused, possess good judgement, detail oriented, willing to be a team player, and have the ability to be productive while working independently.

Please note only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you have these qualifications and are interested in a career opportunity as a Paralegal with a busy law firm, please respond in confidence to:

Taylor MacLellan Cochrane proudly traces its roots in the Annapolis Valley back to 1835 when the founding Partners opened the very first law office in the Kings County Shire Town of Kentville. Since those early days, Taylor MacLellan Cochrane has become one of the largest law firms in Nova Scotia outside of metropolitan Halifax serving clients throughout the Atlantic Provinces.

At this time we are currently seeking a full-time Paralegal to join our Property Team. Taylor MacLellan Cochrane is seeking a highly motivated and energetic Paralegal to become part of the firm’s Property Team at its Kentville location. The successful candidate will have successfully completed a recognized course or have previous experience in a law firm environment, have strong computer and document production skills, and must possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills as this position involves a high degree of client contact. Previous Paralegal experience in property work will be considered an asset.

Please note only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you have these qualifications and are interested in a career opportunity as a Paralegal with a busy law firm, please respond in confidence to:

Kim & Lake Law is a law office scheduled to open in Halifax for February 1, 2018, with a focus on immigration, corporate/commercial, and real estate.

We are seeking a paralegal, preferably with experience in property transactions (although we invite all those interested to apply). The position would involve working on such transactions and other legal matters, as well as general reception and bookkeeping duties.

Our ideal candidate has the following skills and attributes:

- excellent customer-service skills;
- detail oriented;
- the ability to work efficiently and in an organized matter;
- strong communication abilities and habits, both with clients and co-workers; and
- experience with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.

We offer a competitive salary and a supportive work environment. We will work with the successful candidate to ensure that they are best positioned to excel with our organization.

Please apply by e-mail to ethankimlaw@gmail.com (Attention: Ethan Kim) with a cover letter and resume, preferably in PDF format.

Any questions about the position may be directed to the same e-mail address, or to Ethan Kim at 902-292-0077. Although we thank all applicants, only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

I am an internationally trained lawyer who was admitted into the Nigerian Bar Association in 2013. I am a 2016 Master of Laws graduate from the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. I am a permanent resident living in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Prior to my enrolment in the Master of Laws program, I was a lawyer at a firm in Lagos, Nigeria. During my time as a lawyer, I gained drafting, litigation and alternative dispute resolution skills in a wide range of practice areas including family, civil, criminal and corporate law. My experience includes drafting of documents and arguing motions in criminal court, criminal and civil trial preparation work, and assistance with alternate dispute resolution processes in relation to divorce, child custody and breach of contract cases. I have also had the opportunity to volunteer at the Dalhousie Legal Aid Clinic on poverty and elder law files. In this role, I researched and drafted a legal brief urging the court to dismiss an adult in need of protection application. The “adult protection order” was terminated and our client was put in the care of her sibling.

I am seeking an articling position for 2018 - 2019 or 2019 - 2020 in Halifax or Dartmouth. Please contact me at ugohalifaxlawyer@yahoo.com for my full resumé.

Responsibilities
The Legal Assistant is responsible for the specific paralegal duties as well as providing comprehensive adminitrative support to the NSHA Legal Services team by effectively coordinating the day-to-day operation of the NSHA Legal Services office. The position coordinates all administrative activities, establishes administrative procedures and guidelines and acts as a liaison with other administrative assistants across the health authority. This position works closely with the Executive Assistant to the General Counsel. This role is an integral part of the NSHA Legal Services team and contributes significantly to its efficiency and success.

Qualifications:

High School completion plus successful completion of a post-secondary diploma in office administration or paralegal technology from a recognized institution. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be acceptable.

A minimum of 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible experience, providing administrative support and office coordination in a law firm, in-house legal department or government

Effective organization skills; ability to determine dat-to-day priorities and utilizes considerable foresight to ensure activities for all are structured to accommodate planned and unplanned for events

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook). Intranet and Internet websites, SharePoint maintenance and development. Demonstrated competencies required advanced skills and abilities in a facets of modern office practices and technology in meeting planning to create efficiencies and streamline tracking and retrieval of information

The IWK Health Centre is an internationally recognized and respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million women, children, youth and families across the Atlantic region. The IWK is committed to a workplace where our staff, physicians, learners and volunteers reflect the patients, families and communities that we serve. We seek and encourage applicants who reflect our broad diversity, and we are committed to reducing barriers to employment and career growth.

Position Summary: Accountable to Legal Services, the Privacy Coordinator is primarily responsible for developing and implementing the IWK’s privacy program and coordinating the processes associated with monitoring compliance with privacy legislation, policies, and best practices. This includes follow-up of audit reports of the various electronic information systems containing personal health information at the IWK Health Centre; reviewing and investigating privacy breaches, complaints and requests under the Personal Health Information (PHIA) and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Acts; coordinating privacy impact assessments, including tracking and follow-up; developing and presenting reports to management on the IWK’s compliance/performance; filing reports with privacy regulators; co-leading the IWK’s Privacy Best Practice Committee, providing consultation and education to IWK staff, and being the IWK privacy representative on the Research Ethics Board (REB) and various provincial committees/initiatives.

Pink Larkin is a well-established, progressive law firm with offices in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

We are looking for a self-motivated and energetic associate to join our practice in Halifax, NS. The ideal candidate will have a particular interest in civil litigation and administrative law, including union-side labour law, employment law, human rights, construction law, business disputes, professional regulation, and pension and benefits law, as well as in supporting our criminal law practice. They will have outstanding research skills, an interest in developing strong advocacy skills and be comfortable working independently as well as in support roles for senior lawyers. We are a close-knit team with a strong sense of camaraderie, committed to providing only the highest level of service to our clients.

Salary will be commensurate with experience, and competitive with the leading Atlantic Canada firms. We are committed to employment equity, and offer a liberal benefits package to all our employees.

Please forward a letter of interest and resumé to Sandy McKenna, Manager of Administration, via email at smckenna@pinklarkin.com or by fax to (902) 423-9588 by January 22, 2018.

While we appreciate all applications, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal is now accepting applications for its annual Clerkship Program. Those interested in applying for the position of law clerk with the Court of Appeal should submit their applications no later than March 9, 2018.

Place of work
The Law Courts, 1815 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Period of employment
One year – Commencing July 2018 or August 2018

Qualifications
All applicants must have graduated from a recognized law school. Preference will be given to candidates who are admitted as a member of the Bar of a Province or Territory of Canada; however, all interested graduates are encouraged to apply. Ability to read and work in French is not essential, but is considered an asset.

I recently completed the Legal Administrative Specialist Program at Eastern College. Along with my recent education, I have over 20 years of Executive/Administrative experience in various industries. For a copy of my CV, please contact me at: Email: tabrannen@gmail.com Cell: 902 210 2574

The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society is seeking applications from individuals who are interested in serving on the Council of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The Society’s current member, Tilly Pillay QC, will become the new Executive Director of NSBS in January 2017.

The ongoing work and priorities for the Federation can be accessed via the FLSC website.

If you are interested and wish to discuss the matter, please contact Daren Baxter QC, TEP, Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee at daren.baxter@mcinnescooper.com.

Written confirmation of interest should be submitted to Julia Schabas, the Society’s Governance Officer, at jschabas@nsbs.orgbefore 4:30 pm on Monday, January 15, 2018. The Governance and Nominating Committee will conduct interviews in time for this appointment to take effect in March.

Are you a lawyer or law student in the Halifax area looking to give back to the community and help improve access to justice? Consider volunteering your time at the Free Legal Clinic this winter.

The clinic relies on volunteer lawyers and law students to provide support and free legal advice to individuals representing themselves in court. Private one-hour sessions are available, by appointment, at the Law Courts at 1815 Upper Water St.

Only people with certain types of cases in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court or the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal are eligible for this free service. For more information on who is eligible, visit the Courts of Nova Scotia website.

The Free Legal Clinic in Halifax is open most Thursdays from 9 am until 1 pm. Volunteers are needed for the following dates in 2018:

February 1, 8, 15 & 22

March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29

April 5

An initiative of Nova Scotia’s Access to Justice Coordinating Committee, the Free Legal Clinic began as a five-week pilot project and is now entering its fourth year of operation. The clinic has provided hundreds of hours of assistance to self-represented litigants, and prompted the courthouse in Sydney to open its own clinic.

These clinics provide a valuable service to litigants who may not otherwise have access to a lawyer, and are a rewarding experience for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Meaghan Gillis in the Executive Office at 902-424-3690 or by email at Meaghan.Gillis@courts.ns.ca.

Registration is open until the Friday before the Online Land Registration Act training program. Cost for this program is $650 plus HST and registrants have the first two weeks to review the materials and the final week to complete the assessment.

Lawyers participating in this program MUST have a working knowledge of property law. The review materials provided are not meant to teach the principles of property law but to assist you in reviewing for the assessment.

A tour of some of the key areas of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly will be conducted, followed by a presentation on the House of Assembly and the legislative process, provided by the Chief Clerk, Legislative Counsel and Assistant Clerk.

Topics covered include:

-Overview of the Role of the Speaker, the Chief Clerk and the Sergeant-at Arms

-Overview of the legislation process, the budget process and the work of the Table Officers

-Overview of the Committees

All attendees are invited to join Government and Public Sector Lawyers and Young Lawyers Sections for an informal get-together at The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse (diagonally across from the Legislature), immediately following the event.The menu and bar will be available for those who wish to purchese food and refreshments.

The Board of Directors of Canadian Defence Lawyers invites you to a luncheon honouring our 2017 Lee Samis Award recipient, Clarence A. Beckett QC on January 24, 2018. The event will also include presentations by notable Nova Scotia Judges, Justice Jamie W.S. Saunders of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and Justice Robert W. Wright of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. Justice Saunders will present “Litigation as We Know it, May Not be in Your Future”, and Justice Wright will present “Judicial Settlement Conferences”.

These presentations will provide one hour of professionalism education. We hope that you and your colleagues in the defence bar and the insurance community will join us to recognize Mr. Beckett's achievements at an enjoyable, informative and entertaining afternoon at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, 1919 Upper Water Street, Halifax. The presentations begin at 11:30 am and lunch at 12:30 pm (business attire).

The Lee Samis Award of Excellence was named for the founding President of CDL to recognize exceptional contributions and/or achievements by members of CDL:

to the legal profession in general;

to jurisprudence in Canada on the law of insurance;

to law or development of the law of insurance in Canada; or

related to a significant law-related benefit to CDL and/or the insurance industry.

In honour of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, a panel discussion will take place about international issues and opportunities for lawyers and law students to promote human rights, support human rights defenders and defend the rule of law, in partnership with the CBA-NS Constitutional & Human Rights Law Section, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, and Dalhousie’s International Law Society.

Visit http://dayoftheendangeredlawyer.eu/ for more information about Day of the Endangered Lawyer: “In 2018 – the eighth year of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer – the focus of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer will be on Egypt. Many human rights organisations, among them Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, IDHAE, ELDH and the International Commission of Jurists confirm that the Egyptian authorities have moved beyond scaremongering and are now rapidly taking concrete steps to shut down the last critical voices in the country’s human rights community.”

Estate planning seems relatively straightforward - a client asks for a will and you draw it up. You do what the client asks, and the client is happy, so all is well, right? Not exactly. Estate planning is complicated - it involves understanding estate and gift tax laws, income tax laws, probate procedure, financial planning, and long-term care planning. It also requires a tremendous amount of research, fact-finding and listening. Lawyers who dabble in will drafting, and even experienced estate planning practitioners who fail to have frank discussions with clients, can cause serious errors and invite negligence claims. Attend this program and learn how you can avoid costly mistakes for your clients, and for you. Experienced estates lawyer Lynne Butler draws on personal and vicarious experiences to identify common estate planning blunders (and their consequences), and how to avoid these mistakes in your own practice. Topics include joint bank accounts, leaving the cabin to the kids, choice of executor, and much more. Each “do not do” is followed by alternative strategies that can lead to vastly different results. Delivering practical and helpful information about a serious topic in a light tone, this presentation will make having difficult conversations with clients about assets, relationships and goals a little easier, and expose hidden pitfalls that can trip up even experienced estates practitioners. The principles and concepts taught will apply equally across the country.

Live webinar with chat includes 30 day replay.

This program features real-time audio of the presenter with synchronized presentation slides, and a chat feature that allows for live Q & A.

With recreational marijuana use scheduled to be legalized in July 2018, many employers and employees are feeling a little dazed and confused about what the new place of cannabis, and changing employee expectations, will mean for the workplace. Can employers continue to expect that employees will show up sober and ready to work? Will employees be allowed to smoke, vape or consume edibles at work? What about in the parking lot, or during breaks? What if the employee is a truck driver, or a teacher? Under what situations can employees be terminated? When, where, why, how and what can employers test for? What impact will legalization have on employers’ existing duties to accommodate medical marijuana users, and also provide a safe workplace? Which company policies should be updated and how? Clear the smoke! Attend this program and hear from experienced employment lawyer Shelley Brown what he is advising clients, and why. You’ll learn about the US experience, relevant Canadian cases, and more!

Live webinar with chat includes 30 day replay.This program features real-time audio of the presenter with synchronized presentation slides, and a chat feature that allows for live Q & A.

Hear directly from esteemed judges and accomplished lawyers from diverse practice backgrounds about success in leadership, career development, and advocacy skills. Connect with colleagues, share advice and learn from other's experiences.

Registration is open for Media & the Law: Working Together to Improve Access & Public Trust. The Nova Scotia Courts are pleased to present this conference for journalists, judges, students, lawyers and other justice system professionals.

Friday, May 11 & Saturday, May 12, 2018 | Pier 21, Halifax, N.S.

For information about the session topics and to register, visit the Courts of Nova Scotia website:

This is an opportunity for an open and frank discussion of the important larger issues surrounding the working relationship between the media and the Canadian courts. Staff from the Executive Office will note any ideas arising from the discussions for consideration by the Nova Scotia Courts’ Media Liaison Committee.